As a child on the planetRoyla, Keenser was often picked on for being larger than everyone else. His father often had to save him, and he was getting tired of it. Then in the year2230, the USS Kelvin contacted Royla. CaptainRobau, Lieutenant CommanderKirk, and LieutenantK'Bentayr arrived using a shuttlecraft, as the transporter was offline for repairs at the time, and greeted the Roylans peacefully. Later while trying to repair the shuttlecraft, Keenser helped pinpoint a problem. Keenser joined Starfleet and graduated three years later, just as the Kelvin was destroyed. He went through many assignments. His latest, prior to the Enterprise, was Delta Vega, in the Vulcan system. He was the chief engineer there. At the time, the outpost at Delta Vega was full of people. As time went on, many of them left, and Keenser was alone until Montgomery Scott arrived. One day, when the two were walking outside they came across a monster which Keenser scared by staring at it. The two were firm friends since although they did not always get along very well.

Keenser succeeds in repairing a problem by going through a small shaft. After that, Keenser laughs.